Switchfoot Bro-Am Wrap-up

Encinitas, CA: The 3rd Annual Switchfoot Bro-Am Presented by Sun Diego drew over 5,000 friends and supporters to Moonlight Beach in Encinitas on Saturday, June 2. A yearly event near and dear to Switchfoot’s hearts, the Bro-Am was created by the band to give back to the San Diego community while also benefiting a local children’s charity.

“Despite the oil spill, the Bro-am succeeded in bringing the community together for something bigger than ourselves.”

This year’s event, presented by title sponsor Sun Diego, raised significant funds for Care House at a festive pre-event auction night event at When In ROME…Restaurant that included an acoustic performance by Switchfoot’s Jon Foreman, and auction items including a Taylor guitar signed by Pearl Jam and another signed by Switchfoot, an electric guitar signed by Angels & Airwaves, a custom-shaped longboard by Andy Powers, a six-course dinner with wine pairings by When In Rome’s executive chef Rosemary Ragone, and a two-hour surf lesson with Switchfoot. Additional funds were raised through sponsorships, vendors on the beach day-of, and a sold-out afterparty at The Belly Up Tavern.

As circumstances beyond our control would have it, the Encinitas beaches were closed all weekend due to a diesel spill about 3 miles off the coast. Though the contaminated waters kept everyone land-locked, the Bro-Am moved forward with a hilarious dodgeball tournament that replaced the regular surf contest. All 64 surfers that would have competed were invited to instead partake in an action-packed tournament that featured headbands, ’70s shorts, nerf armor, and even a gorilla costume worn by Switchfoot’s Jon Foreman.

The concert began at 11am and entertained an increasingly growing crowd with performances by Alex Woodard, This Holiday Life, Reeve Oliver, The Jade Shader, Escalera, Timmy Curran, Tom Curren, Jason Mraz, Jon Foreman with Sean and Sarah Watkins of Nickel Creek, and a finale by Switchfoot. It’s arguable what was more exciting – the encore all-star performance of Weezer’s “Surf Wax America,” or watching Jon Foreman, Tim Foreman, Chad Butler, and surf-legend Tom Curren battle it out on the dodgeball court against Dave Kennedy of Angels & Airwaves on Macbeth’s team. The winning dodgeball team, made up of Gabe Garcia, Shey Yates, Eddie Lester, and

JC Toro representing AKA Surf and Loserkids.com, beat out Transworld Surf in the finals. Special trophy enviro-surfboards made by INT Softboards were presented to the champions onstage.

“Despite the oil spill, the Bro-am succeeded in bringing the community together for something bigger than ourselves,” says Switchfoot’s Chad Butler. “To see so many great local musicians collaborating on one stage would have been enough but the excitement surrounding the impromptu dodgeball tournament was unforgettable.”

No one really seemed to miss the surf contest, as in the end, the event is about giving back to San Diego, supporting Care House, and a bigger picture.

Butler affirms, “As a band we are very grateful for what we have been given and it is a privilege to raise support and awareness for Care House to help homeless kids in San Diego.”